Page 118 of Cougar

I snort a soft laugh. “You have.” I reach over and cup his clean-shaven face. “And you look very handsome tonight.”

He turns his head and kisses my palm.

Bass pulls the Denali up to the valet outside the Oceanside Aquarium, and Cam helps me out and leads me inside. The main ballroom is decorated with crystal chandeliers that resemble icicles, and the tables are covered in white tablecloths with silver runners draped across the middles, the glass globes in the center made to look like giant snow globes.

After dinner, the guests are herded to an adjoining ballroom decorated in red-and-white fabric, giving the illusion that we’re standing under a circus tent. Booths line three of the four walls with a variety of carnival games, and a merry-go-round sits in the middle of the room.

As the night comes to an end, I’m standing at the doors with Lisa, looking for Cam and Bass. Like a car crash, I watch in horror through the floor-to-ceiling glass as Elizabeth Easton shoves Jay.

I see red and the next thing I know, I’m charging toward her. “Elizabeth!” I lunge for her, but a strong arm hooks me around the waist and holds me back. “Who the hell do you think you are?” I exclaim, balling my fists at my sides as my entire body shakes with anger.

“Someoneneeds to teach that daughter of yours some respect, Emerson,” she argues. “She attacked my goddaughter.”

“Still overdramatic as always, Elizabeth.” I roll my eyes. “Respect isn’t taught—it’s given because it’s earned. My daughter is not a wild animal. She doesn’t attack people. You had no right to put your hands on her.”

“Well that explains a lot,” she snaps back. “Your lack of parenting reflects in that little bitch.”

I’m going to kill her.

“Liz, shut the hell up!” Cam yells as he steps between us, getting in her face. “Take her embarrassing ass home,” he orders his brother-in-law.

“You’re one to talk,” Zach adds, pointing at his mother. “If anyone needs to learn some respect, it’s you.”

“What’s going on?” I turn to see Rebecca and Chris taking in the scene.

“Oh, nothing much. Just typical Chelsea drama, as usual.” Zach gestures to a blonde girl, crying and clutching her arm, and it registers that she’s the same girl we met on Thanksgiving. Everything clicks into place.

“It figures the troublemaker belongs to you two,” I sneer.

“Let’s go, Liz.” Mike grabs Elizabeth by the arm and leads her away. Troy finally releases his hold on me and tells me he’s going to get the car. I realize everyone is gone except for Lisa and me.

“They left,” she tells me. “I didn’t want to leave you here by yourself. You okay?”

“Not even a little bit.”

Troy pulls the car up to the curb, and Lisa and I get in.

“I can’t believe she put her hands on Jay. Who does that?” She sighs. “You should’ve seen the look on Zach’s face. He was devastated. How embarrassing.”

“It’s not his fault his mother’s a bitch.”

Lisa lets out a soft laugh. “Did you see Jay? She was ready to throw down with Liz. Luckily Bass got hold of her. I think Jay could take her.”

She has no idea.

* * *

Walking into the house through the garage door, I hear voices coming from the gym. I push open the door to see Bass holding the bag and Jay standing with her arms at her sides, her shoulders slumped.

“Again, Princess,” Bass barks.

“I’m tired, B,” she whines.

Stepping into the room, I kick my heels off and hold out my hand. “Hand over those gloves.”

She swiftly removes the gloves and holds them out one at a time, allowing me to slide my hands inside.

“Hold it steady, Bass. I need to do some damage.”

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